Glossary

Band Handbook – The band handbook is an all-encompassing document from the directors outlining band information, procedures, events and policies for the school year.

Band Boosters – The Fort Mill High School Band Boosters support organization consists of an all volunteer army of annually elected board members, committee chairs and parent volunteers that provide a leadership mechanism to support the band programs, directors and students throughout the entire year.

Band Banquet – The annual band banquet occurs every spring in May and is open to all band parents and students to attend. The banquet tradition is a time to reflect on the season, reward band student achievements, celebrate our outgoing seniors, senior videos, recognize the band staff and band booster board members, announce the upcoming season band section leaders and reveal the upcoming marching season show. Tickets will go on sale in early spring!

Band Shed – The building where all of the props, pit crew equipment, snacks and during the spring, donated garage sale items are stored. This shed is located on the other side of the skillet (from the band room), behind the baseball field.

Band Uniform – Blue pants, jacket, show shirt, black socks and black shoes. The band provides the first three. You purchase black socks. Black shoes will be ordered at school and your charms account will be billed. Because the students wear the show shirt at football games and many other events where they represent the school, we suggest you purchase at least 2 more.

Battery – The Marching Band percussion ensemble of Drums including Snare, Quads and Base Drums

(BOA) Bands of America – Bands of America is a program of Music for All. More than 1 million people are alumni of Bands of America marching band events, the first of which were held in 1976. Bands of America was created in 1976 as “Marching Bands of America” (MBA), renamed Bands of America (BOA) in 1984 and merged with the Music for All Foundation in 2006 to create Music for All. MFA’s marching band events continue to carry the name of “Bands of America.”

Cadre Section – Refers to the seniors.

Call Time – The time that the band director will tell the kids to be dressed or ready to go. The band director also says “If you aren’t 15 minutes early, you are late”. Get ready for your kids to start telling you that and plan accordingly.

Charms – The computer program a lot of schools, including us, use to track finances, volunteer requests, the calendar/events and many of the forms you need.

Chaperones – Fort Mill’s affectionate term for our all parent volunteers who assist the medical staff and marching band students during practices, football games and other venues during the season. They travel with the band and ensure their safety at the hotels and any emergent needs are met.

ClassAAAAA (5A)– for state competitions this year we are going to be in class 5A. That class is comprised of the largest 16 schools in the state determined by the official school enrollment in grades 9-12. It has nothing to do with the size of the band. The South Carolina Band Directors Association (SCBDA) realigns classes every two years. We grew enough over the past two years to make us the 16th largest school in South Carolina. Nation Ford is slightly smaller with about 100 fewer students.

Some local competitions determine class size based on the number of wind and percussion players in the band regardless of the size of the school.

Bands of America (BOA) (not related to State) determine class size based on the official school enrollment in grades 10-12. Some high schools in the nation still use the old junior high and senior high model, and senior highs only include grades 10-12.

Color Guard – Color Guard in the marching band is a non-musical section that provides additional visual aspects and choreography to the performance using dance, flags and props.

Concert Band – Music curriculum of students who make up the ensemble of concert bands and music appreciation with regular performances held during the school year such as the holiday concert and spring concerts for guests, parents and sponsors. This occurs after Marching Band Season.

Drum Majors – the leader of a marching band, drum and bugle corps, or pipe band, usually positioned at the head of the band or corps.

Hospitality – this is the committee that organizes (and looks for volunteers) many of the events where the kids are fed. This happens multiple times throughout the year. For instance, band practices, competitions and games.

Jazz Band – Music curriculum of students who make up the ensemble of jazz instruments and music appreciation. This is usually in the spring.

Marching Band – The Marching Band program consists of students in various sections, Drum Majors, Trumpets, Clarinets, Saxophone, Flutes, Low Brass, Horns, Percussion, Color Guard and complete an ensemble performing are various venues e.g. LCI, BOA, South Carolina State 5A Championship, Thanksgiving and Christmas parades and more. This program runs from early to mid summer through December.

Pass-Offs or Music Pass-Off – To pass-off assigned material, the player must successfully demonstrate to the director or designated student assistant his/her ability to perform it. Every note and rhythm must be perfect, though standards will be adjusted to fit the level of the musician. For example, a freshman AFTER WORKING HARD may be able to play an assignment note perfect and up to tempo, but with weak intonation, poor tone and style. The flaws would be pointed out to the individual, but would be passed off. On the other hand, a senior might have done VERY LITTLE WORK, but still could play the assignment note perfect, up to tempo, with better tone, intonation and style, and still be asked to go back and perfect the assignment.

Percussion – Sometimes referred to as the “pit” or group of musicians in the front of the field who are for the most part “stationary” and don’t move. They are comprised of snares, tenors and bases.

Percussion Rehearsal – These are sometimes divided into two groups; Battery (snares, quads and bass drums) and Pit (marimbas, vibraphones, xylophones, timpani, cymbals and all other stationary percussion instruments).

Plume – The delicate removable featured accessory on top of the Shako marching band headgear.

Pit Crew – All volunteer parents who assist marching band with the loading, transportation, unloading and setup of band equipment Pit Instruments, Show Props and more at all marching events.

Quads – Multi tenor drums commonly as mounted sets of 4-6 drums.

Region Band – Each year the South Carolina Band Directors Association (SCBDA) a division of the South Carolina Music Educators Association (SCMEA) sponsors the Region and All-State Band Clinics made up of three bands, the membership of which is selected from grades 6-12. Students are auditioned from public and private schools in their regions. The top students are called back to all state auditions.

Secret Pal – Just before the band goes on the road to compete, those that want to participate in the “Secret Pal” game put their name in a hat. No one is obligated. Each person that participates draws one name, and that is their secret pal for the rest of the season. The day they depart before each competition, they get their secret pal gifts. They are supposed to be small things to entertain them on the bus, no more than $10 total. Things like snacks they like, lip gloss, etc. The kids will actually make a list of what they would like. Be prepared for some kids/parents to break the monetary rule, but it’s what you are comfortable with.

Section Leader – Students chosen by the directors to lead a section of specific instruments (clarinets, trumpets, etc.).

Sectionals – when a group of the same type of instrument gather to practice at a different time than full band practices. This usually occurs once a week and time/day is determined by the section leader.

Shako – The marching band uniform headgear (with Plume)

Shoes – they are usually referred to by the brand that they are. One year when the shoes were white, they were referred to as Dinkles. In 2016 it is MTX.

Skillet – the blacktop parking lot in front of the band room, where all the magic begins. This is where marching band and color guard will begin to practice during band camp.

Symphonic Band – Music curriculum of students who make up the ensemble of symphonic instruments and music appreciation with regular performances held at the (PAC) Performing Arts Center during the school year such as the holiday concert and spring concerts for guests, parents and sponsors.

Volunteer Sign-Ups – Sometimes you will see volunteer sign-ups in Charms and sometimes someone will have an immediate need they will announce on Facebook. All parents are encouraged to sign up for various events throughout the year as it takes all of us to make this work.

Weapons – These are what the Color guard refers to when talking about the sabers and rifles they throw. The rifles are not real. They are props.